Cranberry-separator.



Patented Nov. I3, |900.

,L. A. HAYDEN. CRANBERRY sEPAHAToB.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1900.)

` 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Inl/ENIGH QQ/ Tn: Nonms Firms co.. Fumo-LITRO., wnsnmsmu. n. c.

No. 66|,80L Patented Nov. I3, |900.

L. A. HAYDUL CRANBERBY SEPARATOR.

(Application filed Jsn. 30, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

v 1H: cams Pcrzns co. Pnoroumo., wAsmNaToN, D. c.

UNITED STATESA PATENT QFFICE.

LOTHROP A. HAYDEN, OF CARVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

l CRANBERRY-SEPARATYOR.

SPECIFICATION forming pare of Letters Patent No. 661,801, dated November 13, 1900. Application filed January 30. 1900. Serial N0- 3,2'74. (No modela To all whom, it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, Lo'rHRoP A. HAYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Carver, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cranberry-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to that class of cranberry-separators in which the cranberries bound on a board, the good berries bounding lhigh over a separating-board and the decayed or poor berries bounding but little and not over the separating-board, but falling elsewhere; and the invention 0I' improvement consists in-certain novel constructions and. arrangements of parts whereby the berries are prevented from becoming clogged and jammed either in the hopper or in their progress through the machine, whereby they are more thoroughly separated into best berries, seconds, and rejected or worthless berries, whereby adj ustability is provided in-dierent parts, whereby the berries are prevented from sticking to the boards, and whereby the apparatus is in other respects rendered more efficient.

The nature of the invention is fully de` scribed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figure l is a side view of a cranberry-separator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of thesame. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail in horizontal section on line 5, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A represent uprights, and A A' crosspieces constituting the main frame, and a a' are uprights and cross-pieces constituting an extension thereof. In the lower part of the main frame are two boxes or receptacles B and B", and in the lower part of the extension is a box B. The box B is for the reception of the good cranberries which pass through the apparatus, the box B" is for the seconds, and the box B" is for the poor or rejected berries. Pivoted at C' to the upper cross-bar of the frame is the hopper C, said hopper resting normally in a horizontal position on the pivots and on the bar C", Figs. l and 2. The

open end of the hopper extends a short distance inside or between the upright walls D, supported by the frame, one of said walls being provided on its outer side with a guideloop b, through which a side bar b, bent outward at b", extends, said side bar being pivotally secured at c to the hopper and having its outer end bent up into the lip 19"', all as shown in Figs. l and 3. The side bar is pivotally connected at d with the bar d, whose lower end is pivotally secured at d" to the frame. By this means the hopper may be raised and held at any desired angle by the friction of the bar b in the guiding-loop b and supported by the bar d. The inner surfaces of the upright boards D have secured to them a diagonally-arranged end board D', which, together with the guides D", constitutes adiagonal slideway for the gate E,which has centrally secured to it at D'" a holder E', Fig. 2, pivotally secured at E to a lifting-bar E", which is pivoted at one end to the end board D. By sliding this gate in the ways the width of the opening or gateway between it and the shaker is determined.

The shaker, which is lettered F, extends across the machine between the horizontal portion of the hopper C and the gate E, its surface being set at an angle so that its highest edge is next and at about the same height as the bottom of the hopper, and its lower edge is next the gate or passage for the cranberries. One end of this shaker has secured to it a bar F', supporting a roller F", which is engaged by the cam Gr, rigid on the shaft GH, supported by the frame. This shaft is actuated by a suitable crank G, and the roll is held in engagement with the cam by means of a suitable spring g, secured to the frame and bearing against the opposite end of the shaker, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Rigid on the shaft Gr' is a gear-wheel Vh, Fig. 4l, engaging with a gear-wheel h on the shaft H', having its bearings in the frame'. This shaft, in

connection with a shaft H located somewhat higher than the shaft H', and each carrying cured at J to. a plate J, adj ustably secured IOO slot in the plate.

as to height to one of the uprights A' of the frame by means of a bolt I", extending through said upright and through a suitable of the roll I on the shaft H" is regulated and the angle of the apron H is determined. This apron is kept taut by means of a suitablespring e' between the plate J" and the lower end of the lever J. V

K is a fau-blower supported in a suitable case K', from which ra horizontal'ue K eX- tends. The fan is supported on a shaft k, which has a pulley 7e', connected by a belt k" with the cam G.

When the berries are poured into the hopper, they run freely at whatever angle the hopper is placed,without danger of becoming bruised or jammed (as is the case with the wedge-shaped hoppers in common use). and pass from the hopper upon the shaker,through the gateway or passage between said shaker and the gate E, onto the apron H, which is moved by the operator uphill or toward the outside of the machine. The berries while on the apron are prevented from rolling over the edges by the guards I' and are subjected to a draft of air from the blower, directed through the flue K" against the lower portion of the surface of the apron, for the purpose of freeing the berries from the sand or'dirt which has accompanied them through the hopper. The berries are then free to roll down the apron in a direction opposite from that vof the movement of its surface and against the draft of air from the blower into the throat or well through which the cranberries fall and in which they are separated.

The throat or well above referred to cousists of an inclined passage between two parallel boards L, the upper ends of which are secured to the upper cross-bars A' and the lower ends secured to the oppositely-inclined walls L', supported by the cross-bars immediately above the receptacles B' B".

P P represent a series of downwardly-inclined bounce-boards pivotally supported at their upper ends at R' to a guard or shield R and pivotally connected at their lower ends at R" with ears R'" at the opposite ends of vertical guide-boards P', whose ends are rigidly secured to the boards L. (See Fig. 5.) Opposite the guides P' are the dividingboards S, each vertically set in slots S' in the boards L and adjustable vertically therein. The tops of these dividing-boards are higher than the lower edges of the bounce-boards P, and their faces are parallel with the faces of the guides P', so that the passages between the boards S andP' are always vertical. The

upper edges of these dividing-boards are beveled or curved on their rear sides, as shown, and behind them are inclined shelves S", secured at their opposite ends to the boards L and wi'th their rear ends flush with similarlyinclined cross-pieces T, having secured to them downwardly-inclined canvas guide-flaps T', said cross-pieces and flaps being sup- By this means the height ing-board S'".

ported by a `trough or guard U, supported by the frame .and parallel with the guard or shield R and the edges of the boards L. The lower end of this trough U is Hush with another similar trough U', whose lower end U" is directly over the receptacle B and which is formed with a partition U'", so that at that point the trough is formed -into a directing nozzle 'or tube. Above the highest bounceboard P is a similar board P", supported by a cross-bar or guide-bar V, and below the lowest of the four dividing-boards S is a reversely-placed bounce-board P'" and a divid- Under the bounce-board P'" is a vertical board W and guide-board W', and below and in fronto'f the dividing-board- S'" are guide-boards W", underneath one of which is the vertical dividing-board Y. These boards P'", S"',W',W", andY are supported by and between the upright boards L. When the berries roll off the apron H, they first drop between the apron and the board Vonto the upper bounce-board P. The best and sound berries bound from this inclined bounceboard over the upper dividing-board S and are guided by the board S", the canvas guides T and trough U, and the tubular portion U" into the receptacle U" for sound and best berries. The berries which are not hard enough to bound over the highest dividing-board` dr'op onto the next bounce-board-P, and the soundest of them may bound over the dividing-board S opposite. Those berries which are not sufficiently hard or sound to bound over Vany of the dividing-boards S fall upon the bounce-board P'", and the hardest of them jump over the dividing-board S'" and are guided .by the boards W" into the receptacle B" for seconds. Those which have passed between all the vertical passages formed by the boards P and S and which upon striking the bounce-board P" cannot jumpover the board'S'" fall between said board S'" and the board W and thence between the boards W' and Y into the receptacle B" for worthless or poorestberries. Of course any earth or other foreign subst-ance which accompanies the berries through the apparatus falls into this receptacle B". Should any berries fall on the highest board P", they would probably be blown Off the edge and drop upon the bounce-board P; but if they were heavy enough to roll down the board P" against the draft of air they Would pass down into the receptacle U", being perfectly sound berries. In order that the dividing-boards S may be moved vertically simultaneously and held in the desired position in the slots S', they are pivotally secured at m to bars lrL,-Fig. l, provided with a number of horizontal pins n', adapted to be engaged by a hook n", hung from the outside of one of the boards L.

The guide-board R has .hinged to it at r' a hook fr, which is caught over one of the pins r", Fig. 1,'eXtending horizontally from the board L. By moving this hook from one pin ICO to another the guide-board is raised or lowered and the angles of the bounce-boards P changed, said bounce-boards swinging from their inner pivots R.

The dividing-board S is held at the desired height in its slot by the arm Z, pivoted at one end to said board and at the opposite end to the side board L', Fig. 4, a spring Z being secured at one end to the arm Z and bearing at its other end against the board L, thefriction being sufticient to hold the dividingboard S in position. The board W and one of the boards W are held in position between the two boards L by means of springs Z", secured at one end to the edges of the boards W' W and bearing at their opposite ends against the side boards L. The mechanisrn Z Z Z may be duplicated at The opposite ends of the boards S, W, and W. 4Thus the berries fall through a series of spaces which are always vertical and bound over vertical boards adjustable as to height. the spaces through Which the berries fall are not only vertical,but have parallelsides, there is no possibility of their becoming crowded or wedged, and hence crushed or injured.

By providing the spring i the rolls I and apron H yield in case anything gets between a roll and the apron, thereby preventing injury to the apron.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cranberry-separator of the character described, the frame; the boards Lvsup-H ported by the frame; the adjustable guideboard R provided with a hook adapted to engage with projections extending from the side of one of said boards; the vertical boards P" rigidly secured to and between said boards L; the bounce-boards P pivotally connected at their opposite ends to saidvertical boards and tothe guide-board R; the Vertical dividing-boards S sliding in vertical slots in the boards L; and the bar n pivotally connected with the dividing-boards and adapted to be supported at different heights by means of projections engaging with a hook on one of the boards L, substantially as described.

2. In a cranberry-separator of the character described, the frame; a well or chute containing suitable bounce-boards and dividingboards; the shaft H mounted in a frame and carrying a roll I; the supporting-lever J pivL oted to the frame; the shaft H supported by said lever and supporting the roll I; the vertically-adjustable plate J" supporting pivotally the lever J; the endless belt or apron H connecting said rolls; and a spring between the lower end of the lever and the plate whereby said rolls are kept apart and the apron stretched, substantially as described.

In a cranberry-separator of the character described, the frame; a well or chute pro vided with suitable bounce-boards and dividing-boards; the structure D, D mounted on the frame and provided with an opening or gateway leading to the well; the hopper C hinged at its inner edge to the frame near said opening or gateway; the guide-loop b secured to the outer side of one of the Walls D of said structure; the side bar b bent as described at b" and formed intoV the lip 19', said side barbeing pivotally secured at one end to the hopper and extending through said guide- Aloop; andthe bar d pivotally secured at its opposite ends to the frame and the side bar, substantially as described.

LOTHROP A. HAYDEN.

`VVit-nesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, A. N. BONNEY. 

